ASEAN tourism heads to adopt ‘communications crisis manual’

DAVAO CITY — The 10 member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are set to adopt today a "communications crisis manual" to address concerns during natural and man-made disasters affecting the region.

Tourism Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab said the ASEAN tourism ministers will adopt the proposed manual when they hold their formal meeting here today as part of the nine-day ASEAN Tourism Forum 2006, which kicked off last Friday.

The manual, according to Palabyab, shall be on top of the agenda of the ASEAN tourism ministers’ meeting.

"At least with that manual, we will have a way of communicating with each other what is actually happening in an area and not just whatever information based on hearsay," Palabyab told The STAR.

He said the members of the ASEAN Special Working Group initially approved the manual during discussions at the Pearl Farm Beach Resort since Friday.

"Hopefully, the manual shall be adopted when the tourism ministers and the private sector national tourism organizations meet here for the ATF," he said.

Singapore, which is the lead country for the communication sector of the regional tourism cooperation, reportedly worked out the details of the manual.

"And when you say crisis, it includes everything, including terrorism or whatever man-made or natural disasters," Palabyab said.

He said the manual provides that a specific point person be designated in each country who shall take charge of gathering all information regarding a disaster.

The ASEAN tourism ministers shall be joined by the tourism heads of Japan, Korea and China, being part of the "ASEAN + 3" grouping.

The nine-day ATF also includes separate meetings of various tourism-related organizations such as the ASEAN Airlines Association, ASEAN Federation of Tourism Associations, and ASEAN Association of Hotels and Restaurants.

Also part of ATF 2006 is a Travel Exchange (Travex) at the NCCC Shopping Mall where thousands of tourism sellers and buyers not only from region but from across the globe as well are expected to take part.